Day: February 7, 2023

The latest Covid-19 statistics, for the week ending 4 February, showing 513 new cases (compared to 640 the previous week) and 3 new fatalities (2 last week). The testing positivity rate falls to 3% (down from 3.9%), with still 1 person in ICU and 52 in other wards. The 747 active cases are 142 less than last week.

In other news, the press reports on Operation Rising Sun 2, with 31 people detained in Colón Province, they being allegedly linked to a gang calling itself Niños Sufridos (NS).

The Canal authority (ACP) has emphasised that the Canal is neutral and any and all vessels that pay their toll and follow the regulations may transit, even the 2 Iranian Navy ships said to be on their way.

In some good news, it has been reported that Panama is one of the 10 most affectionate countries in the world. Apparently, Crossword Solver, a tool that is used to solve crossword puzzles and anagrams, analysed 15 million tweets to find out which places publish more affectionate phrases and Panama is among the 10 most affectionate countries in the world. Guatemala was top, followed by Honduras, and Panama was sixth. Mind you, Colón (see above) was mentioned as one of the most affectionate cities…

7 FEBRUARY 2023

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A news release from Transparency International on 7 February says that analysis of the Register of Overseas Entities (ROE), a new database of the real owners of offshore firms that hold UK property, shows almost half of the companies required to declare their ownership have failed to do so.  Its findings include that around 14,500 offshore companies listed as owning property in England and Wales by the land registry could not be identified on the ROE; and 12% of all companies that have filed information (2,358) claim to have no beneficial owners – an issue we previously identified as a potential loophole that would allow offshore companies to sidestep the rules.

https://www.transparency.org.uk/uk-register-overseas-entities-through-the-keyhole

https://www.transparency.org.uk/sites/default/files/pdf/publications/Through%20the%20Keyhole%20-%20Transparency%20International%20UK%20v2.pdf

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The Jersey FIU has published this set of typologies which are divided into sector specific examples, under the headings of Banking, Funds Services Business, Trust and Company Service Providers, Investment Business, Insurance, Money Services Business, Estate Agents, Dealers in High Value Good and Legal Professionals.

https://jersey.police.uk/media/657702/typologies-booklet-2023.pdf

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EU Regulation 2023/253/EU reported that 1 name had been removed from the sanctions lists following a judgment of the General Court.

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv%3AOJ.L_.2023.035.01.0001.01.ENG&toc=OJ%3AL%3A2023%3A035%3ATOC

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv%3AOJ.L_.2023.035.01.0027.01.ENG&toc=OJ%3AL%3A2023%3A035%3ATOC

On 7 February, HM Treasury issued a consultation document, with responses due by 7 June.  It sets out analysis by HM Treasury and the Bank of England on the potential case for a UK central bank digital currency (CBDC) – a “digital pound” and consult on the key features of a potential model.  It also says that, although it is too early to commit to build the infrastructure for a digital pound, the Bank of England and the Government are convinced that further preparatory work is justified to appropriately respond to the emergence of new technologies, international developments and fresh opportunities. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-digital-pound-a-new-form-of-money-for-households-and-businesses

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